Overview of Nvidia Geforce Gtx 1080 Mobile

14 Dec Overview of Nvidia Geforce Gtx 1080 Mobile

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile is a high-end graphics card for gaming laptops. Based on Nvidia’s Pascal architecture and 16nm manufacturing process, the GTX 1080 Mobile delivers excellent performance that rivals many desktop graphics cards. With 8GB of advanced GDDR5X video memory and a 256-bit memory interface, it handles demanding games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions.

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile Features

The GTX 1080 Mobile features 2560 CUDA cores and a core clock speed of 1556MHz with a boost clock reaching 1733MHz. It has 8GB of GDDR5X VRAM with a memory speed of 10Gbps via a 256-bit memory interface. The TDP for the card comes to 100-120 watts.

Compared to the previous generation GTX 980M mobile GPU, the GTX 1080 offers over 70% faster performance on average. It supports advanced graphics APIs like DirectX 12 and Vulkan for improved gaming performance.

Other notable features of the card include:

• Nvidia Ansel – Allows you to take in-game photos at up to gigapixel resolutions
• Nvidia G-Sync – Synchronizes the frame rate to the display for smooth gameplay
• GPU Boost 3.0 – Dynamically boosts clock speeds for extra performance when needed
• Nvidia BatteryBoost – Optimizes power usage for longer gaming sessions when not connected to AC power

Performance Benchmarks

In benchmarks, the GTX 1080 Mobile gets excellent results:

• In 3DMark Fire Strike, it scores over 13,000 graphics points
• In games like Rise of the Tomb Raider at 1080p resolution and maximum settings, it averages 100+ FPS
• It provides highly playable framerates in graphics-intensive titles like Battlefield 1 and The Witcher 3 at 1080p and 1440p

The 1080 Mobile delivers smooth gameplay and high framerates across most games. It has more than enough power to take advantage of high refresh rate 120Hz/144Hz gaming laptop displays. Overall, its performance can match or even exceed many desktop mid-range graphics cards.

Ideal Usage Scenarios

With its powerful specs and features, the GTX 1080 Mobile best suits several usage scenarios:

High-End Gaming Laptops

The card excels inside high-end gaming notebooks as it brings desktop-class 1080p and 1440p gaming performance. By meeting the needs of hardcore and competitive gamers who want smooth high FPS gameplay while retaining laptop portability and form factors.

VR-Ready Laptops

With its VR-Ready certification, the GTX 1080 handles virtual reality gaming and experiences well. It meets the minimum specs for both the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR headsets. Allowing users to immerse themselves in VR titles without a desktop.

Creative Professionals

For creative fields like video editing, 3D modeling, game development, and computer-aided design, the 1080 Mobile delivers excellent performance. Applications like Adobe Premiere Pro, AutoCAD, Blender, Maya etc can leverage the graphics card for faster workflow and previewing.

Compact Desktop Replacements

For users wanting a slim, portable system with full gaming capabilities the GTX 1080 gaming laptops make for good desktop replacements. High-end laptops equipped with this GPU can play games at settings rivaling desktops all while taking up less space and enabling mobility.

Technical Specification Comparison

Here is how the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile compares to other high-end mobile GPUs from Nvidia:

As you can see, the 1080 Mobile has around 20% more cores than the 1070 Mobile. It also uses faster GDDR5X memory and higher clock speeds for improved gaming speeds. Compared to the 1060 Mobile, it has twice the number of CUDA cores and higher clocks for significantly faster 1080p and 1440p performance in demanding titles. It does come with a higher TDP as well.

Real World Gaming Performance

To give you an idea of real-world gaming fps you can expect, here some average fps benchmarks in popular games:

As you can see in these challenging, graphically-intensive games, the GTX 1080 Mobile provides outstanding 1080p performance around or exceeding the 60 FPS level needed for smooth gameplay. This shows why it works so well for high refresh rate gaming laptops.

The GTX 1080 can also handle 1440p well in many games while dialing back some settings:

If you want to game at 4K, the 1080 Mobile can still deliver 30+ fps but settings need to be turned down more as 4K requires tons of graphics power even from top desktop cards.

But for laptop gaming up to 1440p, it provides an excellent experience in AAA games with some settings adjustment.

Key Advantages Over Desktop Cards

Despite being a mobile GPU, the 1080 Mobile has some advantages over its desktop counterparts worth considering when choosing a laptop:

All-In-One Portability

Because it is integrated into a laptop with the CPU, display, keyboard, battery etc all in one portable chassis, it simplifies the gaming setup. There is no need to assemble a tower desktop.

Optimized Thermals

Top gaming laptops equip the card with advanced cooling solutions like vapor chambers and multiple fans to optimize thermals for sustainability during long sessions. The GPU maintains high boost clocks for consistent performance.

G-Sync Support

Nvidia’s frame syncing tech enables a smoother gaming experience by eliminating screen tearing or lag. Variable refresh rate matches the display to the GPU’s output.

Advanced Software

Specialized software like Nvidia Optimus enables longer battery life by intelligently switching between the discrete GPU and integrated graphics. GeForce Experience keeps games and drivers updated automatically.

For these reasons, notebook shoppers shouldn’t underestimate the 1080 Mobile over desktop cards. Paired with a capable CPU, it provides outstanding 1080p gaming unmatched by any other mobile GPUs.

Downsides To Consider

While very capable, there are a few downsides of the 1080 Mobile to factor:

High Cost

Gaming laptops equipped with the GTX 1080 have premium price tags, often around $2000+ for machines pairing it with a Core i7 CPU, high refresh displays etc. It is priced higher than equivalent desktops.

Limiting Factors For Upgrades

As a mobile card, the 1080 cannot be upgraded itself, unlike a desktop GPU. And because it’s soldered onto laptops motherboards, upgrading other components also has limits for future proofing.

Power Limitations

The 100-120W TDP can constrain clock speeds compared to desktop cards not limited by batteries or laptop cooling. Performance caps kick in during intense sessions. Overclocking headroom is also lower.

Fewer Available Models

There are not as many current laptops released in 2023 that incorporate the 1080 now that Nvidia’s RTX series has taken over high-end mobile GPU offerings. Availability is lower.

Weighing the pros and cons is important when selecting any hardware. But even with the downsides, the 1080 Mobile still outperforms all other mobile offerings for gaming and ranks among top GPUs Nvidia has launched.

Latest & Closest Successor GPUs

The immediate successor to the GTX 1080 Mobile is the RTX 2080 Mobile launched in 2019. Based on Turing architecture, key improvements include:

• Introduction of dedicated RT and Tensor cores for ray tracing and DLSS
• 14Gbps GDDR6 memory for higher memory bandwidth
• Async compute capabilities
• 16% greater shading performance over 1080

For the latest in 2023, the RTX 3080 Mobile on Ampere architecture brings further enhancements like:

• 2nd gen RT cores supporting ray tracing
• 3rd gen tensor cores with more AI power
• Up to 16GB GDDR6 memory
• 30% faster on average than 2080 Mobile

The 3080 Mobile supersedes the 1080 by over 50% higher gaming performance. It remains the most advanced mobile GPU in 2023 for laptops. Nvidia also offers “Max-Q” variants focusing on thinner laptop designs.

FAQs

1. Is the 1080 Mobile VR ready?

Yes, the GTX 1080 Mobile is VR ready out of the box, meeting the minimum hardware recommendations for both the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive headsets. Its high resolution and framerates enable smooth VR gaming experiences.

2. How much VRAM does 1080 Mobile have?

The 1080 Mobile is equipped with 8GB of advanced GDDR5X memory connected via a speedy 256-bit interface. The 10Gbps memory clock allows tons of high resolution textures for complex modern games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions.

3. Can you overclock the 1080 Mobile?

Yes, the 1080 Mobile supports GPU overclocking to boost clocks beyond the rated boost speeds. Many gaming laptops allow this through software like the Nvidia Control Panel or MSI Afterburner. However, overclocking headroom is limited by power and thermal constraints.

4. Is the 1080 Mobile good for video editing?

Definitely. With its 2560 CUDA cores, 8GB VRAM and 10Gbps speeds, the 1080 Mobile handles 4K and 1080p video editing in apps like Premiere Pro, After Effects, DaVinci Resolve very well. It accelerates render times and previewing workflows noticeably over CPUs.

5. How does 1080 Mobile compare vs RTX 2070 Mobile?

The 1080 Mobile has 10-15% higher gaming performance compared to the RTX 2070 Mobile. Reasons are its faster GDDR5X memory and higher core count. However, the 2070 supports newer features like ray tracing and DLSS. Overall performance is very close between them making the 1080 still very capable in 2023.

Last Words

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile remains an excellent high-end gaming graphics card for laptops over half a decade from its launch. Based on mature Pascal architecture, it delivers outstanding 1080p and 1440p gaming performance only topped by Nvidia’s latest RTX 3000 mobile GPUs.

With technologies like advanced GDDR5X memory, GPU Boost 3.0, battery-saving Optimus mode and support for G-Sync displays up to 120Hz/144Hz refresh rates, the 1080 Mobile brings a complete, cutting-edge gaming package unmatched by any previous mobile GPU.

It does command a premium price and has some limitations on upgradability as a soldered laptop component. The NVIDIA SHIELD Console, currently available for sale in the US at $199, offers a versatile gaming experience; however, when paired with the right notebook featuring a capable processor and high refresh rate screen, it transforms into a fantastic platform for on-the-go PC gaming, delivering framerates and resolutions that meet or exceed those of many desktop graphics cards.

For these reasons, while succession by Nvidia’s ray tracing-enabled RTX series continues, the 1080 Mobile remains a powerful, viable option for high-end gaming laptops even in 2023. It keeps pace with intensive modern AAA titles at high settings. Making it still deserving of consideration for premium mobile rigs focused on speed over newer leading-edge features.